Specialty Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs/Instructional Series Faculty Appointment (Open Rank-Assistant Teaching Professor, Associate Teaching Professor, or Teaching Professor)

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

1d•$98,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Colorado College of Nursing seeks a full-time faculty member to serve as Specialty Director of its Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program. This open-rank Instructional Faculty Series appointment may be at the Assistant Teaching Professor, Associate Teaching Professor, or Teaching Professor level, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The position combines program leadership and administration with didactic and clinical teaching, student advising, clinical placement coordination, and participation in the College and University’s teaching, practice, service, and scholarship missions. A portion of the position may involve clinical practice, depending on the candidate’s experience and expertise. The Specialty Director advises PMHNP students, monitors their progression and retention, develops individualized plans of study, supports student success, and leads the comprehensive examination process. The role also includes recruiting and advising students, supporting faculty recruitment, and cultivating alumni and constituent relationships. The director leads PMHNP specialty instruction across classroom, online, and blended formats; contributes to curriculum development and revision; and helps ensure alignment with certification standards and accreditation requirements. The position coordinates clinical placements, preceptors, and practicum sites, monitors student clinical compliance and progress, and maintains communication with preceptors and placement partners. The director also participates in leadership of related mental health education programs, plans specialty faculty meetings, contributes to program development, serves on committees, and engages in professional organizations and community initiatives. The role is based primarily at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, with teaching responsibilities as needed at the Legacy Campus in Lone Tree. The position is eligible for a hybrid schedule based on assigned teaching responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution; a direct-entry master’s degree in nursing may be substituted.
Earned research or professional doctorate in an appropriate field of science, nursing, social science, education, or a related area from an accredited institution.
At least two years of experience working as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Current Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification.
Eligible to obtain and maintain an unencumbered registered nursing license in Colorado.
Eligible to obtain and maintain an unencumbered Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) registration and prescriptive authority in Colorado.
Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching, collegial collaboration, and commitment to scholarship.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees throughout the institution.
Ability to provide leadership toward strategic objectives and to think critically and solve problems to achieve team objectives.
Commitment to improving the quality of and access to healthcare for communities.

Nice To Haves

Four years of experience working as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Academic leadership experience, such as curricular or program development.
Current Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) designation.
Demonstrated success teaching across nursing programs from undergraduate through DNP.
Collaborative record of teaching and scholarship.
For appointment as Associate Teaching Professor: recognition as an expert teacher and sustained commitment to a program of scholarship.
For appointment as Teaching Professor: recognition as a master teacher, sustained leadership in teaching, expertise in curriculum development and teaching innovations, and sustained commitment to peer-reviewed scholarly work.

Responsibilities

Serve as academic advisor for all PMHNP students; advise students, monitor progression and retention, and establish performance improvement plans as needed.
Support student development, evaluate application of knowledge, and promote accountability through clear expectations for preparation, engagement, and independent study and practice.
Lead the PMHNP comprehensive examination process, including competency evaluation and coordination of poster presentation activities.
Create and maintain individualized formal plans of study and track student progression.
Recruit and advise qualified PMHNP students, including conducting interviews, portfolio reviews, and informational sessions.
Build relationships with alumni and constituents to monitor graduate outcomes, support preceptor recruitment, and strengthen alumni engagement.
Support recruitment of qualified PMHNP faculty as needed.
Lead didactic and clinical instruction in classroom, online, and blended formats, and facilitate learning aligned with course and program outcomes.
Participate in course, curricular, and program development and revision, ensuring alignment with certification standards and accreditation requirements through faculty governance processes.
Integrate innovative teaching strategies and educational technologies, and support student certification applications.
Monitor program quality indicators, including certification pass rates and related benchmarks.
Collaborate on PMHNP teaching assignments and accept assignments determined by the Assistant/Associate Dean and/or Division Chair.
Identify, recruit, and maintain relationships with clinical preceptors and practicum sites; secure placements before each semester and submit required documentation.
Monitor student clinical compliance and progression, and evaluate preceptors and clinical sites.
Participate in leadership teams administering the psychiatric-mental health nursing fellowship program and the Tools of Engagement program.
Plan and lead specialty faculty meetings and communicate policies, procedures, and program updates.
Support development of program opportunities that expand access to mental health education and workforce development.
Communicate and collaborate with students, faculty, staff, preceptors, and external partners; serve on divisional, college, and university committees.
Engage in interprofessional teaching and scholarship, professional organizations, service, and community initiatives that promote the College’s mission and priorities.